Directory_and_Chronicle_1891 — Page 472

LU-SHUN-K'OU (PORT ARTHUR)—PEKING

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fleet, and connected with the sea by a narrow entrance. It is strongly fortified and is armed with Krupp guns of heavy calibre. The entrance to the port has been deepened and a basin constructed inside, 1,176 feet in length by 984 feet in breadth, with a depth of 38 feet 8 in. at high water, 25 feet 7 in. at low water. The port is well found. There are 5,904 feet of spacious quays with steam cranes from which the vessels can be com missioned and troops and crews embarked; a drv dock 492 feet in length by 72 feet in width, which can be emptied in five hours by a steam pump; a pair of shears of 50-ton capacity; a small graving dock for torpedo boats; a graving slip; godowns, workshops, foundries, &c. There is also a torpedo establishment. A Military Hospital, presided over by two Chinese doctors trained in the Military College at Tientsin, has lately been established. The works, which were carried out by a French Syndicate, were completed at the latter end of 1890. This is the chief naval station in China, and is the head- quarters of the Pei Yang Squadron. The population of Lu Shun K'ou is about 4,000.

DIRECTORY

FORTIFICATIONS & ORDNANCE DepartmENT

Director Tautai Liu Hein Fang Military Instructor-Theo. Schnell

(detached)

IMPERIAL NAVAL DOCKYARD

Director-Tautai Kung

TORPEDO DEPARTMENT

Captain in charge-Mali Fu-heng Chief in charge of Torpedo Boats and Instruction--Captain Rogers, R.N. Chief in charge Technical Dept.-W.

Fleischer

Supdt. Engineer-Li Chun-yün

HARBOUR DEPARTMENT

Harbour Master-Capt. J. Calder Supdt. Engineer (in charge of dredger

Tauhai)-Li Chung-Kwong

FLEET (see also end of Directory)

Transport "Lee Yuen"

Captain-W. W. Morton

Chief Officer-A. A. Crawford Chief Engineer-Wm. Marshall Second Engineer-Hugh Rodger

Torpedo Depôt Ship "Kangshi," 1,200 tons,

Captain-Sah Ching Ping

Chief of Torpedo Instruction.-Comdr.

R. Scott Rogers, R.N.

Torpedo Engineer-W. Fleischer

Do.

Instructor-J. Bessant

Do. Artificier—G. Williams

IMPERIAL NAVAL HOSPITAL

Dr. Watt Dr. Hsu

PEKING

The present capital of China was formerly the Northern capital only, as its name denotes, but it has long been really the metropolis of the Central Kingdom. Peking is situated on a sandy plain 13 miles S. W. of the Pei-ho river, and about 110 miles from its mouth, in latitude 39 deg. 54 min. N. and longitude 116 deg, 27 min. E. or nearly on the parallel of Naples. A canal connects the city with the Pei-ho. Peking is ill adapted by situation to be the capital of a vast Empire, nor is it in a position to become a great manufacturing or industrial centre. The products of all parts of China naturally find their way to the seat of Government, but it gives little save bullion in

return.

From Dr. Dennys's description of Peking we quote the following brief historical sketch: "The city formerly existing on the site of the southern portion of Peking was the capital of the Kingdom of Yan. About 222 B.C., this kingdom was over thrown by the Chin dynasty and the seat of Government was removed elsewhere. Taken from the Chins by the Khaitans about 936 A.D., it was some two years after- wards made the southern capital of that people. The Kin dynasty subduing the Khaitans, in their turn took possession of the capital, calling it the 'Western Residence.' About A.D. 1151, the fourth sovereign of the Kins transferred the court thither, and named it the Central Residence. In 1215, it was captured by Genghis Khan. In 1264,